GALLAGHER'S WORD

If there is an initial takeaway from Saturday's football action, it's this.

Stanford and Utah both losing eliminate the entire Pac 12 from the playoff picture, and Bedlam will most likely determine the Big 12 champion this season.

The game of the week was No. 6 Baylor and No. 12 Oklahoma. The Bears, who had played a soft schedule coming into this key Big 12 battle against the Sooners, were looking to begin the first of three games against top 20 opponents in the conference with a victory.

Oklahoma matched Baylor's speed with their own and were able to extend a three-point lead to ten, after a horse-collar tackle called on the Bears turned a 3rd and 15 into a 1st and 10, giving the Sooners new life and led to a touchdown drive, extending their lead to 44-34, which would be the final score.

While Baylor isn't out of the playoff picture yet, they are at a disadvantage as long as Oklahoma keeps winning and No. 8 Oklahoma State is undefeated, and if the Cowboys are 11-0 when they meet Oklahoma in Bedlam, the Bears are done. The Big 12 title and a potential spot in the playoff will go to either the Pokes or the Sooners.

No. 7 Stanford fell to Oregon 38-36 Saturday night, and the other one-loss team in the Pac 12, No. 10 Utah, lost to Arizona 37-30. The hope for the Pac 12 was that the Cardinal and Utes would be one-loss teams coming into the conference title game and based on where the chips fell everywhere else, the winner would have a shot at the playoff. Any chance of a team from this conference getting in are gone.

Another side note: I wouldn't expect any of the top four to be moved out in this week's poll. All four won, but No. 2 Alabama stood out and looked impressive, beating No. 17 Mississippi State 31-6. It would not be surprising if the Crimson Tide move into the No, 1 spot after Clemson's close game at Syracuse. Ohio State and Notre Dame had wins by multiple scores. The wins were against sub .500 teams. While they weren't sexy, they should stay where they are.